The AT&T Performing Arts Center announced the 2018 season of its distinctive speakers series #hearhere. From poetry to performance and beyond – with #hearhere you’ll experience the radical imaginations, passion, humor and knowledge of iconic personalities who shape the way we experience our world and each other.

This fourth season of #hearhere begins with the return engagement of the astrophysicist and popular TV science expert Dr.Neil deGrasse Tyson on January 18, as a non-subscription optional add-on. PBS icon Tavis Smiley is next, on February 25, with his theatrical experience DEATH OF A KING, featuring pianist Marcus Roberts. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak appears on March 15 followed by Bill Murray, Jan Vogler & Friends on April 14, Rob Lowe on April 25 and Rita Moreno on May 6. The season culminates with the return, as a non-subscription optional add-on, of Ira Glass on July 21, 2018.

“This season of #hearhere is probably the best we’ve had yet, and we’ve had some outstanding seasons,” said Doug Curtis, president and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. “We’ve built a roster with some of the most interesting and engaging people from a diverse range of interests, and I think our audiences will again agree that #hearhere delivers!”

Five-show packages are on sale now and range from $421.75 to $221.75 with the option to add to your order Neil deGrasse Tyson for $125 – $50 and Ira Glass for $65 -$35.

Note: to purchase same seats for Neil deGrasse Tyson, orders must be received by December 10, 2017.

Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.attpac.org/hearhere, by telephone at 214-880-0202 or in person at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Winspear Opera House Box Office at 2403 Flora Street.

Seating in the Center Circle Orchestra section is available exclusively to Center Circle members. Call Membership Services at 214-978-2888 for information.

Purchase of the five-show series includes the right to renew the same seats for future seasons and a discounted parking option.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson

Winspear Opera House

Thursday, January 18, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.

Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.

Tyson’s professional research interests are broad, but include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way.

In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a 12-member commission that studied the Future of the US Aerospace Industry. The final reportwas published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.

In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a 9-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the Moon, Mars, and Beyond commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which will help guide NASA through its perennial need to fit its ambitious vision into its restricted budget.

For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS-NOVA’s spinoff program NOVA ScienceNOW, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.

During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a stable of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF-funded pilot program StarTalk. Now also a popular Podcast, and a limited-runTelevision Series on the National Geographic Channel, StarTalk combines celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. The target audience is all those people who never thought they would, or could, like science. In its first year on Television it was nominated for a “Best Informational Programming” Emmy.

Tyson is the recipient of nineteen honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to a non-government citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid 13123 Tyson. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive by People Magazine in 2000.

Recently Tyson served as Executive Editor and on camera Host & Narrator for Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, the 21st century continuation of Carl Sagan’s landmark television series. The show began in March 2014 and ran thirteen episodes in Primetime on the FOX network, and appeared in 181 countries in 45 languages around the world on the National Geographic Channels. Cosmos, which is also available in DVD and BluRay , won four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics Choice awards, as well as a dozen other industry recognitions.

Tyson is the fifth head of the world-renowned Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the first occupant of its Frederick P. Rose Directorship. He is also a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.

Neil deGrasse Tyson lives in New York City with his wife, a former IT Manager with Bloomberg Financial Markets, and their two kids.

Death of A King: A Live Theatrical Experience with Tavis Smiley and Marcus Roberts

Winspear Opera House – Sunday, February 25, 2018 – 7:00pm

Tavis Smiley presents a live multi-media stage presentation of his NYTimes Bestseller,Death of A King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther KingJr.’s FinalYear. Commemorating the upcoming 50th anniversary of thedeath of this renowned leader, this timely presentation will reveal a side of theiconic civil rights leader you’ve never known before. With Smiley serving as narrator and original compositions performed by the genius of the modern piano, jazz pianist Marcus Roberts, this joyful tribute tells the little-known story of King’s final year. Against all the odds and with his popularity in deep decline, King summoned the courage, conviction, commitment and character, to bring a message of peace, equality and justice to a bitterly divided nation. This stage presentation ties together elements of stunning visual imagery and live music with eloquent prose, declaring the truth of the impact that one man’s integrity and strong faith in humanity had on the American people, and people across the globe. Death of A King: A Live Theatrical Experience aims to reunite America with its best self.

The production is written and narrated by Tavis Smiley and features live piano accompaniment by Marcus Roberts.

From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, Tavis Smiley — broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist — has emerged as an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS, as well as The Tavis SmileyShow from Public Radio International (PRI).

Smiley has written 21 books. His memoir, What I Know for Sure: My Story of Growing Up in America, became a New York Times Bestseller, and the book he edited, Covenant with Black America, became the first nonfiction book by a Black-owned publisher to reach #1 on The New York Times Bestseller’s list.

In the New York Times Bestseller, TheRich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, Smiley and his co-author Dr. Cornel West challenge all Americans to re-examine their assumptions about poverty in America — what it really is and how to eradicate it.

Smiley’s book, My Journey With Maya, is being adapted as a stage play by Tony-winning director Kenny Leon. The book chronicles his almost thirty-year friendship with the iconic poet, Maya Angelou. Smiley’s 2014 New York Times Bestseller, Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Final Year, and his most recent text, Before You Judge Me: The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson’s Last Days, are both being developed as television event series with Emmy-winner J.J. Abrams and Smiley as co-producers, in partnership with Warner Brothers.

The nonprofit Tavis Smiley Foundation is in the midst of a $3 million four-year campaign called ENDING POVERTY: America’s Silent Spaces to alleviate endemic poverty in America.

TIME magazine has cited Smiley as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People,” and Mr. Smiley has been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Steve Wozniak

Winspear Opera House – Thursday, March 15, 2018 – 7:30pm

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products the Apple I and II. He also influenced the popular Macintosh. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. The following year, he introduced his Apple II personal computer, featuring a central processing unit, a keyboard, color graphics, and a floppy disk drive. The Apple II was integral in launching the personal computer industry.

In 1981, he went back to UC Berkeley and finished his degree in electrical engineering/computer science. For his achievements at Apple, Wozniak was awarded the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed on America’s leading innovators.

In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment for single-handedly designing the first personal computer and for then redirecting his lifelong passion for mathematics and electronics toward lighting the fires of excitement for education in grade school students and their teachers.

Through the years, Wozniak has been involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. Making significant investments of both his time and resources in education, he adopted the Los Gatos School District, providing students and teachers with hands-on teaching and donations of state-of-the-art technology equipment. He founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. In 2014, he was awarded the Hoover Medal, a prestigious honor given for “outstanding extra-career services by engineers to humanity,” and was inducted into the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

Wozniak is Chief Scientist at Primary Data and is a published author with the release of his New York Times best-selling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon by Norton Publishing. His television appearances include: ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and The Big Bang Theory, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Bill Murray, Jan Vogler, and Friends

Winspear Opera House – Saturday, April 14, 2018 – 8:00pm

Bill Murray and Jan Vogler met during their travels and became friends in New York. Curious about each other’s artistic world and interests, the actor and the cellist soon had the idea to work together on a project.

A program that showcases the core of the American values in literature and music. A show that communicates the bridges artists have built between America and Europe. Twain, Hemingway, Whitman, Cooper, Bernstein, Gershwin and Foster are some of the strongest voices that influenced generations of humans in America and gave the world a picture of the charm, energy and creative force of the New World.

Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Winspear Opera House- Wednesday, April 25, 2018 – 7:30pm

Rob Lowe became a Hollywood heartthrob with starring roles in St. Elmo’sFire (1985) and About Last Night… (1986). He disappeared from the public eye for several years, eventually reestablishing himself on the popular drama The WestWing. Later successes included featured roles on Brothers & Sisters and Parksand Recreation, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for his work on The Grinder. He churned out two memoirs,Stories I Only Tell My Friends: AnAutobiography (2011) and Love Life (2014).

Inspired by the success of his two NY Times Best-Selling memoirs, Stories I OnlyTell My Friends and Love Life, Rob has created an all-new, peak behindthecurtain at Hollywood, fame, fatherhood and marriage. From the Brat Pack to The West Wing to Parks and Rec and beyond, Stories I Only Tell My Friends: LIVE! is packed with witty fun and one of a kind insights spanning an iconic four-decade career.

An Evening with Rita Moreno

Winspear Opera House- Sunday, May 6, 2018 – 7:30pm

Rita Moreno is a multi-talented actress, dancer, and singer and one of only 12 performers to receive all four major American entertainment awards, winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Her credits span more than six decades, beginning with her Broadway debut at age 13. She has starred on Broadway and on London’s West End; appeared in more than 40 feature filmsand countless television shows; and performed in numerous regionaltheatres including her one-woman show, Life Without Makeup, at the Berkeley Rep. Moreno is best known as Anita in West Side Story in 1961, a role that earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Latina actress to win thehonor. Moreno also appeared on the children’s shows Sesame Street and The Electric Company.

Seven Things I Have Learned: An Evening with Ira Glass

Winspear Opera House – Saturday, July 21, 2018 – 8pm

Creator & Host of Public Radio’sThis American Life

Ira Glass is the host and creator of the public radio program This American Life.

The show is heard each week by over 2.2 million listeners on more than 500 public radio stations in the United States, Australia and Canada, with another 2.2 million downloading each podcast. For years, it was the most popular podcast on iTunes, until the staff created the program Serial, which has over 10 million people downloading each episode.

Glass began his career as an intern at National Public Radio’s network headquarters in Washington, DC in 1978, when he was 19 years old.

Over the years, he worked on nearly every NPR network news program and held virtually every production job in NPR’s Washington headquarters. He has been a tape cutter, newscast writer, desk assistant, editor, reporter and producer. He has filled in as host of Talk of the Nation and Weekend All Things Considered.

A television adaptation of This American Life ran on Showtime for two seasons in 2007 and 2008, winning three Emmys. Glass is one of the producers of Mike Birbiglia’s new film “Don’t Think Twice,” and produced and co-wrote Birbiglia’s first film “Sleepwalk with Me.”

Under Glass’s editorial direction, This American Life has won the highest honors for broadcasting and journalistic excellence, including five Peabody awards. The American Journalism Review declared that the show is “at the vanguard of a journalistic revolution.”

“Mr. Glass is a journalist but also a storyteller who filters his interviews and impressions through a distinctive literary imagination, an eccentric intelligence, and a sympathetic heart.” —The New York Times